Did not complete highest level of secondary school (of all aged 15-64)

%

39.9

37.7

36.2

34.5

37.3

37.7

36.1

34.8

36.3

34.2

32.7

Females - of all with post-school educational qualifications(a)

%

41.8

41.8

43.0

43.6

42.6

44.1

43.9

44.1

44.6

45.1

45.2

Higher education students completing courses

'000

90.5

94.8

107.7

120.6

132.9

138.7

141.0

145.3

155.3

161.7

n.y.a.

EDUCATION AND LABOUR FORCE

Units

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Unemployment rate

With bachelor degree or higher

%

2.4

3.2

3.9

4.3

4.8

4.7

3.6

3.8

3.5

3.1

3.0

With undergraduate or associate diploma

%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

5.9

5.8

5.8

5.2

4.7

4.6

5.3

With skilled or basic vocational qualifications

%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

8.9

7.1

6.6

6.4

7.1

6.6

5.6

Without post-school qualifications(a)

%

8.4

8.6

12.4

13.7

14.1

13.0

11.1

11.3

11.6

10.9

10.3

Trainees and apprentices

'000

163.9

172.8

160.2

151.9

137.5

131.1

135.8

158.0

175.4

195.5

261.1

(a) From 1993, figures refer to participation/attainment in courses leading to recognised qualifications only.(b) Data prior to 1994 are not strictly comparable to more recent data due to changes in scope and collection methodology. Community education providers were included in the collection in 1995, and private providers were included in 1996.(c) Prior to 1996, New Zealand students were counted as being overseas students.

Reference periods: Schools data are at July, except for 1991 and 1995-1998 (August). TAFE data comprise enrolments in the calendar year to 31 December. Higher education data are at 31 March from 1989; prior to that the reference date was 30 April. Data on educational attainment, participation rates, unemployment rates and apprentices are at May. (Note: data for participation and attainment in previous editions of Australian Social Trends were as at September). Overseas student data are at 31 March. VET data are at 30 June.

EXPENDITURE

Units

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Total outlays on education (of GDP)

%

5.0

5.0

5.4

5.6

5.6

r5.4

r5.3

5.2

r5.3

5.2.

n.y.a.

Government outlays on education (of GDP)

%

4.4

4.3

4.7

4.9

4.9

r4.7

r4.6

4.5

r4.5

4.4.

n.y.a.

Government outlay on education

Primary and secondary

$'000m

9.4

9.9

10.7

11.6

12.0

12.2

12.5

13.0

13.9

14.7.

n.y.a.

Tertiary

$'000m

4.7

5.0

5.9

6.4

6.9

7.1

7.6

7.6

8.1

8.0

n.y.a.

RESOURCES

Units

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Schools

no.

10,036

10,007

9,980

9,957

9,865

9,679

9,648

9,630

9,609

9,587

9,590

Government schools - of all schools

%

74.9

74.8

74.8

74.8

74.7

74.0

73.8

73.6

73.2

73.0

72.7

School student/teaching staff ratio

All students

ratio

15.3

15.3

15.4

15.3

15.3

15.5

15.4

15.4

15.3

15.3

15.0

Government school students

ratio

14.9

15.0

15.2

15.1

15.2

15.4

15.4

15.4

15.3

15.3

14.9

Primary students

ratio

18.7

18.4

18.5

18.4

18.4

18.5

18.1

18.1

17.9

17.9

17.3

Secondary students

ratio

12.6

12.4

12.5

12.4

12.4

12.6

12.6

12.7

12.7

12.7

12.6

Females - of all primary teachers

%

72.3

73.5

73.7

74.2

74.4

74.7

76.1

76.2

76.9

77.5

78.0

Females - of all secondary teachers

%

48.8

50.1

50.4

50.6

51.1

51.3

52.3

52.6

53.1

53.5

54.1

Females - of all higher education academic staff

%

27.8

30.1

30.8

31.9

32.6

32.8

33.5

34.1

34.4

35.1

35.5

Reference periods Expenditure data are for financial years. Schools data are at July, except for 1991 and 1995-1998 (August). Higher education data are at 31 March from 1989; prior to that the reference date was 30 April.

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